Welcome to Rostrevor
Nestled where the Mountains of Mourne roll down to the sea, Rostrevor sits on the shores of Carlingford Lough, surrounded by breath-taking scenery that has inspired artists, writers, and dreamers for generations.
High above the village lies the An Chloch Mhór, which translates to “The Big Stone”, a massive granite boulder steeped in myth and folklore.
Local legend tells that it was hurled from the Cooley Mountains across the lough by the mighty Fionn mac Cumhaill, Ireland’s legendary giant, during a battle with his Scottish rival, Benandonner. The stone still rests there today, watching over the village and offering spectacular views across the lough and the Mournes.
It’s easy to see why C.S. Lewis, who spent many childhood holidays in Rostrevor, was so enchanted by this landscape. The forests, mountains, and mystical atmosphere are said to have inspired his vision of Narnia — a place of wonder, courage, and companionship, much like the spirit we’ve built at the Shed.
Here in this magical setting, Rostrevor Men’s Shed has grown into a thriving community of active members, representing every age group over 18, with a membership roll now exceeding 50 and a steady flow of visitors dropping by to see what we’re working on.
We’re formally open three days a week, with members engaged in personal and community projects, gardening, and plenty of socialising. But the heart of the Shed is its flexibility — our friendly buddy system means members can message each other via our active Facebook page or Messenger to meet up anytime.
It’s this mix of local heritage, natural beauty, and genuine camaraderie that makes Rostrevor Men’s Shed such a special place — where there’s always a story to share, a project on the go, and a warm welcome waiting.
Our Humble Beginnings
Every great story starts small — and ours began in November 2015 in a borrowed room in St Bronagh’s GAA club.
Our founder, Mark Gibbons, had watched one too many YouTube videos on “How to make a bird box” and decided that Rostrevor needed a Men’s Shed of its own.
A public meeting was called, and to everyone’s surprise the room was packed. From that night on, men gathered every Wednesday evening and Saturday mornings with little more than a kettle, a handful of tools, and a shared belief that the village needed a space where people could meet, create, and support one another.
Those early days weren’t glamorous — but they were full of heart.
With no workshop of our own, we worked wherever we could find space. The GAA club car park became our first “outdoor workshop,” where we stood around tonne bags of soil, planting or we would be tidying community spaces in all weathers.
Conversations over tea turned into ideas, and those ideas quickly turned into action.
Our first proper woodworking sessions came thanks to a local business who kindly gave us a corner of their premises. Surrounded by borrowed benches and donated tools, we built our very first bird boxes and window boxes. They were simple projects, but they set the tone for everything that followed — practical, community-focused, and made with pride.
But even then, we knew we needed a place to call our own…
A place to call Home.
As the Shed continued to grow, we approached Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to see if there might be a place we could finally call home. Thankfully, they offered us a disused Council building right in the heart of Rostrevor — 16 The Square.
At first, we only had access to the front section, with no heating and no running water. Our water boiler was filled the old-fashioned way thanks to a member who lived just two doors away.
But for us, it was a home — a foothold, a beginning, and most importantly… we could finally make tea.
Behind the building sat a back garden that hadn’t been touched in years. Wild, overgrown and unruly, it looked like an impossible challenge — but the potential was enormous.
Little by little, we brought it back to life.
The whole space was buried under thick ivy, tangled roots and years of overgrowth. Days of cutting, clearing and sheer hard graft slowly revealed the garden beneath.
And once the growth was finally cleared, the true scale of it appeared. A huge blank canvas. A space waiting for ideas, projects and people.
Our first major acquisition was the polytunnel — a generous gift from Kelly Brothers of Warrenpoint. It wasn’t just a structure; it was a turning point.
It transformed an empty patch of ground into a growing space, a workshop, and a symbol of how local support helped the Shed take root and begin to flourish.t.
A Growing Impact – Locally and Nationally
With a permanent home established, our Shed’s work began to ripple out across the community — and soon far beyond it.
What started as a handful of men meeting to make and mend quickly grew into a respected local force for good. Members used their skills and teamwork to take on a wide range of projects: building benches, planters, and signs for schools and community groups; and helping keep Rostrevor beautiful through river, road, and beach cleans.
As these projects became more visible around the village, people began to take notice. Locals would stop by to ask what we were working on — and curiosity turned into interest, and interest turned into membership.
Our numbers grew steadily, drawing men from all walks of life — each bringing their own skills, experience, knowledge, ideas, and enthusiasm. This blend of talents helped the Shed blossom into a place of shared learning, creativity, and laughter, where every contribution mattered.
At the heart of this growth is our commitment to being a genuinely cross-community, all-inclusive Shed.
Men from every tradition, background, and belief work shoulder-to-shoulder on the very projects that define us — raised beds for Eco-Schools, bird boxes for nurseries, the ‘Tommies’ silhouettes honoring the fallen, notice boards and outdoor mini-libraries, community events, marshalled runs, and the Fairy Glen river clean-up. These shared efforts bring people together, break down barriers, and show how practical teamwork can build friendships and strengthen understanding across the whole community.
We became known as a welcoming, inclusive space where men could come together to share their time, skills, and friendship — while giving something back to the community that supported them
Recognition & Achievements
Our creativity, teamwork, and community spirit have earned recognition far beyond Rostrevor.
One of our most meaningful moments came during our Armistice Day Centenary event in 2018 held in partnership with Rostrevor’s Church of Ireland.
We build 21 silouhetes of ‘Tommies’; the fallen men from Rostrevor from both sides of the community.
The event, which featured on BBC Evening News, celebrated unity and collaboration in a shared space — a reflection of what the Men’s Shed movement is all about.
In 2018, we proudly represented County Down at the Irish Men’s Shed Association’s “Shed Series”, held at Belvedere House and Gardens in Mullingar. Competing against 44 sheds from 23 counties, we were honoured to win the Overall First Prize with our handcrafted Map of Ireland, made from four types of wood and symbolising the journeys of our diverse members — from countries as far apart as Denmark and Iran.
Judged by rugby legend Donncha O’Callaghan, Irish Country Living editor Mairéad Lavery, and Éadaoin Keane of Topline DIY, our entry was praised for its creativity, craftsmanship, and spirit of inclusion. It remains one of our proudest achievements.
That same year, Rostrevor Men’s Shed was also showcased at the 2018 Gathering of Irish Men’s Sheds — the largest event of its kind ever held in the world. Hosted by the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) in Cork, the Gathering brought together sheds from across Ireland and beyond, with visitors from Great Britain, Denmark, Iceland, the United States, and Australia.
Speakers included athletics star David Gillick, former Ireland rugby international Donncha O’Callaghan, and IMSA CEO Barry Sheridan, who described it as “the largest gathering of Men’s Sheds ever held anywhere in the world.”
Ireland was the first country in the northern hemisphere to establish Men’s Sheds, and at that landmark event, Rostrevor Men’s Shed was one of only four sheds whose stories were shared with the audience — a true honour that recognised our creativity, inclusivity, and leadership within the movement.
In 2023, Rostrevor Men’s Shed was recognised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for our contribution to community life, receiving awards in three categories:
🏆 Arts, Culture & Festivals Award – for The Tommy Project, created with our neighbours at St Bronagh’s Church of Ireland, celebrating remembrance and local heritage.
🌿 Green at Heart Award – for our ongoing environmental efforts, including river, road, and beach cleans that help keep Rostrevor beautiful.
🤝 Connecting Communities Award – for our work supporting other Men’s Sheds and local groups through building, fixing, cleaning, and volunteering across the district.
These achievements reflect what our Shed is all about — creativity, community, and connection.
A New Chapter
The very first plans for the refurbishment of 16 The Square were shared with us back in 2017 — an ambitious proposal from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and the Rural Development Partnership, developed with the support of local community groups.
For us, it was exciting and full of promise: a vision of turning our modest base into a modern, welcoming Community Centre that the entire village could share.
But as with many community projects, progress was slow.
Paperwork, funding applications, design revisions and consultations meant that things moved forward in inches rather than leaps. Every step forward seemed to come with a pause, and there were long stretches where nothing appeared to change at all.
And then, just as momentum finally began to build… the Pandemic hit.
Everything stopped.
Refurbishment plans went silent.
Work halted.
Shed activities were placed completely on hold.
For a group whose strength comes from gathering, talking, making, and helping, the sudden isolation was tough. Our benches stayed empty, the tools stayed still, and the building we hoped would soon be transformed sat untouched.
Despite the delays and uncertainty, we held onto the belief that the vision for Number 16 would one day come to life.
And eventually, after years of perseverance, patience and behind-the-scenes effort, that day came.
In 2023 — six years after those first plans were shown — we finally moved into our refurbished home.
What had once been a slow-moving idea had become a warm, vibrant, fully equipped Community Centre: a place for Shedders, for local groups, and for the whole village. A place where the hard work, frustration, and years of waiting were finally worth it.
A Hub for the Whole Community
Today, Rostrevor Community Centre is alive with activity, offering something for everyone.
It’s home to a diverse range of groups, clubs, and classes that bring people together, foster learning, and strengthen connections across generations.
Among the activities held at the Centre are:
Clay modelling workshops for school children
Transfer test preparation classes supporting local families
Speech and drama classes for young performers
Driving theory test preparation sessions
Computer game design camps for kids
A board games club for young adults
Yoga & mindfulness classes
A thriving Crochet Club
Mother and baby groups and baby massage sessions
Art exhibitions and art classes for all levels
First aid and fire warden training courses
Flower arranging workshops
A practical DIY skills class for women, encouraging confidence and creativity in a supportive environment
This variety reflects what the Shed and Community Centre stand for — inclusion, opportunity, and shared space for everyone in the village.
